But when a normal incense is lit, smoke flows upwards because the effect of the heat offsets the weight of the tiny particles, as hot air is lighter than room-temperature air. This is how we think backflow incense works: incense smoke is actually more dense than normal air at room temperature because it contains tiny particles. Backflow incense can also be made in the shape of a stick which is completely hollow in the center, ie, a long, thin tube. Most of the time backflow incense is made in the shape of a cone, with a small, hollow tunnel through the center, ending in a hole at the bottom center.

What are backflow or waterfall incense, and how do they work?īackflow incense are exactly as the name suggests – incense where the incense smoke (or plume) flows in the opposite direction as “normal” incense, that is, downwards instead of upwards. So we hope that we can share some of this knowledge with you, and that it will be helpful in your incense journey. However, it is an incense form that we know a lot about, as we not only hand make our own backflow incense cones, but also design our own backflow incense burners from scratch (aka waterfall incense burners or holders). Over time, the form of incense we use has evolved from leaves, flowers, dried wood and resin pieces, to ground powder that is mixed and dried into different shapes.īackflow incense, otherwise commonly referred to as waterfall incense or an incense fountain, is a relatively new type of incense. Incense has a long history in almost all regions of the world.

Incense waterfall burner